The answer is already on the way. ( Habakkuk 2 v 3 )

 
                Just continuing on what I wrote about dear Sam. I remember him telling me what
                 his favourite  hymn was, here it  is.

                                                  Many times, I'm bowed beneath a heavy load
                                                  On bended knees To God  I prayed
                                                   As I knelt there on the floor,
                                                   He reminded me once more
                                                   That the answer was already on the way.

                                                   If there's a special need in your life my friend
                                                   And your seeking for an answer every day,
                                                   If by faith you start believing
                                                   Mighty soon you'll be receiving
                                                   For the answer is already on the way.

                                                  O yes the answer 's on the way, this I know,
                                                  Jesus said it, I believe it, and it's so
                                                  Our Heavenly Father, knows our needs before we pray,
                                                  And we can rest assured , the answer's on the way.

                                                              Delay is not denial
                                                                     



               

Amazing love ( Romans 5 v 1 - 8 )

 My mind goes back many years, as we walked to church,we saw a lady who attended our church she was upset,said something which I did not quite understand. When we got to church we found out that a dear Christian had died in an accident, his name was Sam . He was a leader in our churches youth organisation,he and some young people had gone away for the weekend,they where going up the famous mountains of Mourne. As they where climbing over some rock Sam's son went to fall Sam managed to stop him, but in the process he fell,  seriously injuring himself,he later went to be with Jesus , He died saving his son,paid the price, for he loved his son,because he died, his son lived. All this reminds me of what our Saviour did, on the cross He died that I might live, He died because He loved me.
                                                   
                                           And can it be that I should gain
                                           An interest in the Saviour's blood?
                                           Died He for me, who caused Him pain?
                                           For me, who him to death pursued?
                                           Amazing love, How can it be
                                           That Thou , my God,shouldst die for me?

                                                       ( Charles Wesley )

Help me Lord. ( Philippians 1 v 6 )

                                                        A prayer.

                                          Dear master,in whose life I see
                                          All that I would, but fail to be,
                                          Let thy clear light for ever shine,
                                          To shame and guide this life of mine.

                                          Though what I  dream, and what I do
                                           In my weak days are always two,
                                           Help me oppressed by things undone,
                                           O thou, whose deeds and dreams were one.
                                                         
                                                       ( Words by John Hunter )
                                       

They shrieked. ( Exodus 2 v 23 - 25 )

        After 400yrs of suffering in Egypt things did not improve ,the wicked Pharaoh died and
        a new one ruled,they may have thought that things would improve,but it didn't.A Motyer
        writes,''They had a new king  , but still the old sorrows''. So what could they do?,well here
        is what they did,''The  Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out,and their cry for
         help, because of their slavery went up to God'',and then we read, God heard (Exodus
        2 v 23- 24)   A/ M points out,they shrieked,and God heard,we read in James 5 v 17, that
        Elijah prayed earnestly,when our Lord was in the garden,we read in Luke 22 v 44,''And
        being in anguish he prayed more earnestly,and his sweat was like drops of blood falling
        to the ground''So many of us pray dead prayers,formal, and unemotional ,have we ever
        shrieked to God,how earnest is our prayers?.Could it be that our  unanswered prayers ,
        are a result of our lack of earnestness. We all have a lot to to learn about prayer,and one
        thing we need to know is that  the effectual  fervent prayer of a righteous man avails
       much ,or as J .B.Phillips puts it,''tremendous power is made available through a good
       man's earnest prayer.( James 5 v 17 )

                                                              James 5 v 17- 18
                                      Elijah was a man just like us,he prayed earnestly
                                      that it would not rain on the land for three and a
                                      half years. Again he prayed,and the heavens gave
                                      rain,and the earth produced its crop.
     
     

Faith and patience ( Hebrews 10 v 35 - 36 )

It is in Hebrews 6 V 12 , we read how the OT saints through faith and patience inherited the promises, that God had given them.God promised Abraham that his offspring would inherit the promise land  ( Genesis 12 v 7 ), this did not happen for a long,long time..So much had to happen before this would come into being.The promised offspring would come, again this would not happen at once,no Sarah and Abraham had to and wait.Faith and patience was called for in that,the promised Messiah ,Jesus, did not co me, for a long time but He did come,Abraham did have a son,Israel did inherit the promised land.The church of Christ is waiting for the return of Jesus,over 2000 years have taken place, He still has not come, but like all these things promised it will happen,we need to exercise faith and patience.These are very instructive  words for all of us,of course God often answers quickly ( Isa 65 v24 ). But often there is a waiting time, it is then we must hold fast to the promise given, and exercise patience.

                                                                  Psalm 40 v 1 .
                                       I waited patiently for the Lord ,He turned to me
                                       and heard my cry,

     

Show a little kindness ( Luke 16 v 10 )

I called in to buy a morning paper a friend was there, I was in the queue ,she was at the till when she took my paper off me and paid for it. It was a little unexpected kindness which brightened my day,We marvel at the wonderful things Jesus did, they leave us speechless but I \am sure he did many little kindnesses to  people that brightened  their days.Remember how He spoke of giving a glass of water,it would receive a reward, A simple word of encouragement can help a lot, a smile, a phone call a visit,a letter,a text,let us all show simple kindness to others,if we are faithful in that which least, who knows what God will trust us with.

                                                             Jesus said.
                                   ''Well done, my good servant,his master replied,
                                    Because you have been trustworthy in a small matter
                                    take charge of 10 cities.''
                                                     ( Luke 16 v 10 )
                               
                                   

A happy new year. ( Jude v 24 - 25 )

     An old professor would wish his students a happy eternity, the question this raises ,is there
    an existence after this life has ended ?.  Does it really matter? should we just live for the
    here and now.The one person who gives meaning to these things ,is the historical Christ,
    When He died many of his followers thought that was it, CP ( Luke 24 v 15 ff) and ( John 20 v
     24 - 29 ), The apostle Paul who met the Lord after His resurrection ( Acts 9 v 1 - 9 ) wrote
     of the many who met with the risen Christ  ( 1 Corinthians 15 v 1 - 8 ) The Bible teaches  that
     Jesus is the resurrection and the Life and that who ever believes  in Him,will conqueror
     even death ( John 11 v  25 ).With that in view we who have trusted in Him would never die.
     the moment our eyelids  close in our natural death , eternal life takes over, death is conquered.
     With Him as your Saviour death has been conquered,yes we can look forward to a glorious
     future.
                                                           A prayer.
                                 
                                      Dear God may you help us to live in
                                      light of eternity,in Jesus name
                                                            Amen.




















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